Biological and Physical Constraints on Maize Production in the Humid Forest and Western Highlands of Cameroon

The aim was to identify biological and physical factors responsible for reducing maize yield in Cameroon. Two surveys were conducted in 137 fields in two agroecological zones in 1995–1997. In the Humid Forest (HF), Bipolaris maydis, Stenocarpella macrospora, Puccinia polysora, Rhizoctonia solani and soil fertility were factors that reduced maize production in 1995 and 1996. In the Western Highlands (WHL), Cercospora zeae-maydis, and the interaction between soil fertility and maize variety were the most important constraints to maize production in 1996. In 1997, C. zeae-maydis, S. macrospora, physiological spot and stem borer damage (Busseola fusca) were negatively related to ear weight. The combination of these biological factors (diseases and insects), and the physical parameter of soil fertility were responsible for reducing maize yield in these selected benchmarks of Cameroon. Maximum potential yield reductions were estimated at 68% due to B. maydis and 46% due to S. macrospora, respectively, in the HF in 1995. In 1996, maximum potential yield reductions in the HF were estimated at 34%, 41% and 30% due to S. macrospora, P. polysora and R. solani, respectively. In the WHL, C. zeae-maydis had the potential to cause a yield reduction of 79% in 1996. In the WHL in 1997, the interaction between C. zeae-maydis and B. fusca, stem diseases and the physiological spot caused potential reductions of 52%, 34% and 39%, respectively.     

Movement of Xanthomonas campestris pv. vitians in the stems of lettuce and seed contamination

Xanthomonas campestris pv. vitians , the causal agent of bacterial leaf spot of lettuce (BLS), can be seedborne, but the mechanism by which the bacteria contaminates and/or infects lettuce seed is not known. In this study, the capacity of X. campestris pv. vitians to enter and translocate within the vascular system of lettuce plants was examined. The stems of 8- to 11-week-old lettuce plants were stab-inoculated, and movement of X. campestris pv. vitians was monitored at various intervals. At 4, 8, 12 and 16 h post-inoculation (hpi), X. campestris pv. vitians was recovered from 2 to 10 cm above (depending on stem length) and 2 cm below the inoculation site. Xanthomonas campestris pv. vitians was also recovered from surface-disinfested stem sections of spray-inoculated plants. Together, these results are consistent with X. campestris pv. vitians invading and moving systemically within the vascular system of lettuce plants. To investigate the mechanism of seed contamination, lettuce plants at the vegetative stage of growth were spray-inoculated with X. campestris pv. vitians and allowed to develop BLS. Seed collected from these plants had a 2% incidence of X. campestris pv. vitians external colonization, but no bacteria were recovered from within the seed.     

Genetic variability within Phaeoisariopsis griseola from Central America and its implications for resistance breeding of common bean

The genetic and virulence variability of 112 isolates of Phaeoisariopsis griseola , collected from various locations in Central America, were studied using seven random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) primers and 12 common-bean differential genotypes. Broad molecular diversity ( H  = 0·92) among isolates was found using RAPD markers. Fifty pathotypes were identified on 12 differential bean genotypes, 29 of which were represented by only one isolate. Only 18 pathotypes were found in two or more countries. Pathotype 63-63 was the most virulent and caused leaf spots on all 12 common-bean differential genotypes. Comparison of virulence phenotypes and RAPD profiles to known Andean P. griseola isolates confirmed that all isolates belonged to the Mesoamerican group. Pairwise comparison between individual RAPD loci showed that the majority were in gametic phase linkage disequilibrium, revealing that P. griseola maintains a genetic structure that is consistent with asexual reproduction. The molecular and virulence diversities of P. griseola isolates from Central America imply that using single resistance genes to manage angular leaf spot is inadequate and stacking resistance genes may be necessary to manage the disease effectively.     

Effects of aqueous extracts and decomposition of Mikania micrantha H.B.K. debris on selected agronomic crops

Laboratory and greenhouse experiments were conducted to determine the effects of aqueous extract and the debris of Mile-a-Minute ( Mikania micrantha H.B.K.) on the germination and growth of four test species, viz. tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), Chinese cabbage ( Brassica chinensis L.), corn ( Zea mays L.) and long bean ( Vigna sesquipedalis L.). Germination percentage, radicle length and fresh weight of two crops, Chinese cabbage and tomato, decreased progressively when plants were exposed to increasing concentrations (12.5, 25, 37.5 and 50 g L⁻¹) of aqueous extract of Mikania , but did not affect those of corn and long bean seedlings. The emergence of tomato and Chinese cabbage was greatly reduced when Mikania debris was incorporated into the soil, irrespective of the amount of debris and the decomposition period. In contrast, the emergence of corn and long bean seedlings was not affected. The application of fertilizer (NPK 15 : 15 : 15) enhanced the fresh weight of all seedlings tested as compared with those not supplied with the fertilizer. Four compounds were identified in the leaf extract of Mikania , viz. caffeic acid, p -hydroxybenzaldehyde, resorcinol and vanillic acid.     

20%多效唑·甲哌 FEE7 微乳剂防止小麦倒伏和增产机理研究

冬小麦二棱期喷施植物生长调节剂20%多效唑·甲哌鎓微乳剂375 mL/hm2,可以显著抑制茎秆基部节间伸长,增加各节间充实度,其中赤霉素(Gas)和生长素(IAA)降低,可显著增强小麦抗倒伏能力和降低田间倒伏率.处理还协调了穗数、穗粒数和粒重的关系,增产幅度6.2%～28.6%.增产原因可能在于促进籽粒灌浆强,增加籽粒中内源Gas、IAA、细胞分裂素(CTKs)的水平,增强了籽粒库活性,同时促进茎叶中干物质向籽粒运转.     

稻象甲的防治指标和防治适期研究

根据稻象甲虫量与水稻产量的关系 ,结合现行的稻谷价格 ,产量水平和防治费用等因素 ,进行了稻象甲危害损失的测定 ,制定了稻象甲的防治指标。采用累积虫日作为防治指数 ,确定了在江西境内稻象甲的防治适期     

茭白纹枯病发生规律及产量损失测定

茭白纹枯病发生规律与产量损失的研究结果表明:高温高湿、种植过密、偏施氮肥、缺乏钾素是病害加重的主要原因;田间发病盛期在7月中旬至8月中旬;单茭重减低率与病级之间呈极显著线性相关;始病期越早,危害越重,产量损失也越大;病害危害程度与有效分蘖数(孕茭数)减少率、单茭重减低率、产量损失率之间呈高度正相关。在产量损失构成中,有效分蘖数的减少为主要因素。     

氟虫腈(锐劲特)对水稻害虫防治效果及增产效应

为了阐明新一代杀虫剂氟虫腈(锐劲特)对二化螟、三化螟、稻纵卷叶螟的防治效果及应用前景,进行了水稻盆栽试验、田间防效试验,并对施用锐劲特后水稻叶绿素含量、功能叶叶面积和产量进行了测定。结果表明,锐劲特施药后13天接虫的三化螟幼虫死亡率仍高达94.44％。在田间防效试验中,每公顷施用锐劲特80％WG有效成分24g防治二化螟,防止枯心效果达97.62％,防止白穗效果达94.44％,害虫死亡率达96.15％;每公顷施用锐劲特5％SC有效成分22.5g防治晚稻三化螟,保苗效果可达95.91％,害虫死亡率达99.04％;每公顷施用锐劲特5％SC有效成分30g防治稻纵卷叶螟,保叶效果达97.88％。叶绿素含量比对照增加32.4％;每公顷施用锐劲特80％WG有效成分36g时,功能叶叶面积增加16％～27.5％,并且杂交稻博优湛19比常规稻早糯3321和早熟早籼815对锐劲特更敏感。每公顷施用锐劲特5％SC有效成分22.5～37.5g时,水稻株高增加4.0～6.1cm,每稻丛穗数增加2.6％～31.18％,结实率提高19.43％～33.97％,水稻产量增加21.58％～28.19％。     

转 Bt基因抗虫棉对棉大卷叶螟抗性的研究

:转Bt基因抗虫棉对棉铃虫有很好的抗性,对棉大卷叶螟(SyleptaderogataFabricius)的抗性未见报道。作者研究表明,棉大卷叶螟在棉田为聚集分布型,低龄幼虫有集中为害习性;抗虫棉对其有很好的抗性,平均虫株率为2.2%,较常规棉中棉所12降低96.6%;百株虫量为133.8头,较常规棉降低88.4%。     

日光温室黄瓜栽培CO_2浓度的消长规律初探

近 3a(年 )的研究结果表明 :日光温室内CO2 浓度有明显的季节变化和日变化。在整个生长期内因通风时间和通风量的不同 ,日光温室内的CO2 浓度 11月和 3月较高 ,5月较低。各时期日变化基本相同 ,但变化幅度因季节而异 ,上午随Pn的逐渐增大而下降 ,中午 12 :0 0～ 14 :0 0时降至最低 ,下午又随Pn的减小而缓慢回升。叶片的光合作用、呼吸作用和土壤呼吸是影响日光温室内CO2 浓度日变化的主要因素。有机肥施用量对室内土壤呼吸和日光温室CO2 浓度有较大影响 ,在有机肥充足的条件下 ,室内CO2 浓度基本满足黄瓜光合作用的需要 ,无须补施 ,如果在作物生长期间再定时随水向土壤中冲施有机肥 ,效果就更好